Researcher Reveals Secrets of Pineapple Nutrition

A researcher from The University of Queensland (UQ) has conducted the world's first pineapple microarray to gain a better understanding of tropical fruit development at the molecular level. Jonni Koia from UQ's School of Agriculture and Food Sciences said her research is the first large-scale gene expression study that identified numerous genes involved in pineapple ripening and other processes such as redox activity and organic acid metabolism. Her research also identified genes conferring nutritional and health benefits, such as those involved in anti-oxidant, glutathione and vitamin C production.

Koia characterized two genomic regions (also called promoters) that control gene activity within the cell and have important biotechnological applications. She said "The demand for new plant-based gene promoters without patent protection is of particular interest among the research and agbiotech community." The two promoters discovered by Dr. Koia's research can be freely used for basic research and plant improvement.

Her research may lead to improved nutritional and dietary intake of food crops to relieve chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

For more details about this research, read the UQ news article available at: http://www.uq.edu.au/news/index.html?article=26649.